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Make Renting Fair gains momentum

Redfern tenants and community show their support for Make Renting Fair at a community day at Poet's Corner.

In NSW current tenancy legislation allows landlords in the private market to end a tenancy without having to give a reason. They can do this by issuing a ‘no grounds’ termination notice – either at the end of a fixed term with only 30 days notice, or at any point during a periodic tenancy with 90 days notice.

This means renters are often scared to enforce their rights because they know they can get kicked out for things like asking for repairs or challenging an excessive rent increase. Make Renting Fair is a community campaign calling for law reform to end these unfair evictions.

Meeting with politicians

Make Renting Fair campaigners with MPs at a Parliamentary Briefing

In mid September the campaign was invited to participate in a cross party Parliamentary Briefing on the need for NSW tenancy reform hosted by Jenny Leong (Greens, Newtown), David Mehan (Labor, The Entrance) and Alex Greenwich (Independent, Sydney). With around a dozen Members of Parliament or their representatives in the room and a number of follow-up meetings organised for those who couldn’t attend on the day, the Briefing provided an excellent opportunity to start some real conversations with politicians from across the parties about the need to tackle the problem of unfair evictions.

Taking inspiration from VIC’s win

In October the Victorian Government announced a range of reforms to its tenancy laws aimed at making renting fair. These include reforms working towards no more evictions without a good reason; allowing pets for renters; and capping rent increases at a maximum of one per year. The announced reforms are a big win for renters in VIC – but it’s also great inspiration for us here in NSW. Make Renting Fair supporters jumped on social media to let Matt Kean, Minister responsible, know that if VIC can do it, then so can NSW!

Kristy (centre) was unfairly evicted. She told her story to media & MPs at a Western Sydney Community Legal Centre Make Renting Fair event.

Is anyone taking notice?

There have been really positive signs that some in NSW Parliament are listening. Jenny Leong, the member for Newtown, last year launched a Greens campaign on renter rights and has long been a vocal supporter of law reform to protect against unfair evictions. At the end of October, NSW Labor announced a new policy platform strengthening renters’ rights. They promised a NSW Labor government would introduce significant reforms to end unfair (‘no grounds’) evictions and cap rent increases to once a year. This is an important step in the community campaign to making renting fair in NSW.

Next steps...

The NSW Government has not yet made any commitments around tackling unfair evictions. But with the outcome of last year’s review of tenancy law not expected to be finalised until early next year, the NSW Government still has an opportunity to include protections against unfair evictions in this round of reforms.

Watch this space as the Make Renting Fair campaign continues. If you haven’t already, please join us by endorsing the campaign, signing the petition, liking us on Facebook and sharing with your friends and colleagues.